I was diagnosed with spondloysis with a grade 1 slip when i was 12 I am now 23. I rarely have pain and it has not affected my life. I want to become a firefighter but have reservations that i will not get hired due to my condition. If i stay in shape and keep my core strong will i really have anything to worry about?

Certain types of work can cause or aggravate a preexisting back problem (disc lesions) . These types of work are more likely to cause muscle strain, which is considered to be the most common cause of back pain by its own. Heavy physical work, lifting, bending or even standing for too long can result in more disc degeneration and back problems.

Some people who are discovered to have back pain due to degenerative disc disease, change the type of their work to avoid more damage and more complications.